Flag-flying device



Feb. 28. 1928. 1,660,341

C. A. LAPWORTH FLAG FLYING DEVICE Original Filed Sept. 9, 1924 \nvenTor.

Charles A. LapworTh ATTys.

Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. LAPWORTH, OF WEST BRIDGEWATER, MASSACHUSETTS, .ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES E. MACLEOD, vT5 EASTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FLAG-FLYING DEVICE.

Application filed September 9, 1924, Serial No. 736,694. Renewed January 21, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in flag flying devices and the object thereof is to provide a simple and. convenient means for supporting the flying flag in an auditorium, hall, room or any place in which there is not a suficient current of air to maintain the flag in a flying position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a convenient device of this character in which the flying flag can be controlled at will, so that, for example, during a band concert, upon the striking up of the National Anthem, the flag can be instantly broken out.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flag flying device of the character described with means for automatically illuminating the fl ing flag.

Another 0 ject of the invention is to provide'a novel means for securing the flag to the staff.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrically controlled flying flag device which can be easily transported and readily set up in any desirable place.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

The preferred embodiment in the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which, a

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a flag flying device with flag flying;

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional view of the upper ortion of the tubular flag staff and trans ucent closure comprising a globe with an eagle mounted thereon, and means for illuminating the globe and eagle;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a preferred form of deflector for projecting the jet of air from the chamber of the flag staff in adirection substantially normal to the axis of the flag stafi;

'g. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the flag staff showing an eye secured tpl sziziid flag staff for supporting the end of t e a I Fig. 5 is a detail view of the upper corner 5 portion of the flag and a detachable resilient mean secured thereto for fastening the flag to the stafi Fig. 6 is a similar view of a modified fastening means. 3 j

A preferred emobdiment of the invention of the flag sta which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a chambered flag staff 1 of any suitable height having means adjacent to the upper end of the flag staff for projecting a current of air or preferably a plurality of jets of air from the chamber of said flagstafl' in a direction substantially normal thereof upon the flag. In theparticular construction illustrated, the flag staff 1 isprovided with e es 2 which are secured to the wall of the ag staff in any suitable manner, and suitable means are provided for securing the end of the flag to these eyes. A preferred means which is illus-- trated in Fig. 5 comprises a resilientmemher such as a helical spring 3 which has at its lower end a looped extension 4' which is stitched or otherwise secured to the flag and which has secured to its upper end a snap hook 5 adapted to be detachably connected to eylelet 2. A similar device may be secured to t e lower corner of the flag or similarly securing such lower corner to the lower eye 2. By reason of this construction the end of the flag will be held taut and in substantial alignment withthe axis of the flag stalf.

The flag stall is rovided with a vertical series of ports 6 a apted to project jets of air against the flag and thereby to cause the flag to fly.

Deflectors desirably are provided for di- .recting the jets horizontally from the flag staff and also for the purpose of increasing the strength 'of the ct. over that of the current which would ow from a port unprovided with deflectors. Any suitable type of deflectors extending well into the chamber of the flag staff ma be provided, a preferred form of deflector owever is illustrated in Fig. 3 which comprises a tubular member 7 fitting the port in the wall of the flag staff and having a substantially semi-cylindrical extension 8 proecting well into the chamber The deflector may be enclosed within the flag staff as illustrated or if desired may project a suitable distance beymd the outside of the wall of the flag sta Any suitable means may be provided supplying air under pressure to the chamber of the flag staff. In the construction illustrated, the means for thus supplying air to the flag staff comprises a rotary blower having substantial cylindrical casing 9 Wlth. a fan 10 rotatably mounted therein andactu-i 11\ ated by an electric motor 11, the shaft of which'is integralfiwith the shaft of the blow- I Q er orsuitably geared thereto; The combined prises a boss having a screw threaded socket to receive and support the lower end of the flag staff 1. The air of the blower is delivered directly to the chamber of the flag staff and the air is projected from the chamber of the flag staff through the ports 6 f against the flag. The upper end of the flag stafi may be provided with any suitable closure to prevent the escape of air.

One of the features of the present invention consists in providing a translucent oldcausin sure for the upper end of the flag staff provided with an illuminating device which will project rays of light upon the flying flag. In the particular construction illus- "trated herein the closure comprises a translucent globe 16 having at its lower end an enlarged boss 17 which encloses the upper end of the flag staff and is suitably secured thereto. Extending upwardly from the said globe and integral therewith is a figure 18 of an ea le also formed of translucent material an which may be colored to simulate the feathers of the eagle. The globe and eagle desirably are formed of lass and one or both may be ground or etche in the usual manner.

An electric light bulb 19 is supported within the translucent lobe 16 upon a suitable cross head 20 in t e upper end of the flag staff and suitable conductors 21 lead from the electric bulb downwardly through the chamber of the flag staff to the switch 13 which controls the blower.

In the operation of the device the blower with the flag staff and flag supported there by may be placed in a suitable location in the hall in which the fla is to be displayed. When it is desired to isplay the flag the switch 13 may be turned on to cause the motor to actuate the fla whereupon the air under pressure forced y the blower into the chamber of the flag stafl will discharge jets through the ports 6 against the flag it instantly to float out into cs1- tion su stantially normal to the axis 0 .the flag staff; the intermittent action of the vanes of the blower will cause the flag to flutter as in a stron breeze. By reason of the fact that the e ectric light 19 is also actuated from the same source of energy and controlled by the same switch as that which actuates the blower, the flag will be instantly illuminated as it is broken out, thus a startling and pleasing efiect is obtained. A fla flying device thus constructed is easily porta le and can be readily installed in auditoriums, churches, clubs and various places where patriotic meetings are held.

In Figure 6 a modified form of means for supporting a flag is illustrated which comprlses a cord 22 which is preferably secured within a hem 23 in the edge of the flag, the ends of the cord being secured to snap ooks 24 which are adapted to be detachably connected to eyelets 2 as above described.

The flag staff ma be of any suitable len h or form, and t e chamber in the flag sta may if desired extend only through an upper portion of the staff, suitable means being provided to supply the chamber witl compressed air or means for projecting th jets of air upon the flag may be made independently of the flag staff secured thereto in proper position to project jets of air upon the flag as above described within the splrit and sco e of the invention.

It wil therefore be understood that the particular embodiment of the invention ,disclosed herein is of an illustrated character and is not restricted, and that various changes and construction, design and arrangement of parts may be made-within the spirit and the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A flag flyin device comprising a longitudinally cham ered staff having a series of vertically alined circular ports in the wall thereof adjacent to the upper end of the staff, means for introducin air under ressure into the chamber of sai staff, cylinrical members in said ports having substantially semi-cylindrical portions extending inwardly from the walls of said ports pre-' senting their concave faces in the path of the air current and acting to direct jets of air laterall from said staff in a direction substantial y perpendicular to the axis of the staff and means for securing the end of the flag adjacent to said staff in substantial alinement with said ports.

2. A flag flyin device comprising a longitudinall cham ered staif having a series of vertica ly alined ports in the wall thereof adjacent to the up r end of the staff, means for introducing air under pressure into the chamber of sald stafi, means for securing an end of said. flag adjacent to and in substantial alinement with said ports includin a resilient member actin to hold the secure end of the flag taut and in substantial alinement with sand ports.

3. flag flying device comprising a longitudinall cham ered stafi having a series of adjacent to the upper end of the stafi, means for introducing air under pressure into the chamber of said stafi, means for securing an end of said flag adjacent to and in substantial alinement with said ports including a resilient member secured to said flag and a snap hook connected to said resilient member adapted to be detachably connected with an eye upon said stafi.

I 4. A flag fl ing device comprising an electricmotorriven blower forming a base,

. a tubular flag staff mounted upon said blower to receive the air projected from said blower and provided with a series of vertically aligned delivery ports adjacent to the upper end of said staif, a hollow translucent device forming a closure for the upper end of said stafi, an electric light therein, an.

electric conducting means extending from said light downwardly through said stafi to the source of electrical energy which actusites the said blower, and means for securing an end of the flag to said stall in substantial parallelism with said ports.

5. A flag flying device comprising an electric motor-driven blower forming a base, a tubular flagl stafi mounted upon said blower to receive 1; e air projected from said blower and provided with a series of vertically aligned deliver ports adjacent to the upper end of said sta a closure for the upper end of said staff comprising a hollow transparent globe with a communicating hollow transparent eagle mounted thereon, an electric light within said globe, an electric conducting means extending from said light downwardly through said staff, to the source of electric energy which actuates said blower, and means for securing an end of the flag to said stall in substantial parallelism with said ports.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES A. LAPWORTH. 

